#140RVW
Some films are so good there really isn’t a lot to say about them. This is an important & no longer little-known story, thanks to this film.
What’s more:
The story of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry is one of the most compelling of the Civil War. The courage and bravery of men who gave their lives for a country that had enslaved them, discriminated against them and would not thank them for their service is beyond extraordinary.
So many great things going on in this movie, from Denzel’s breakout & Oscar-winning performance, to the James Horner score to the Oscar-winning cinematography of Freddie Francis.
Andre Braugher makes his film debut and Morgan Freeman is his Morgan Freeman-est. Matthew Broderick continues his quest to be taken seriously even with a forever boyish face, and he makes a very compelling case here – maybe his best work.
The real star of this film, though, is the story. It’s heartbreaking without sinking into despair, inspirational without being smarmy.
Kevin Jarre’s screenplay hits all the right notes and delivers amazing dialogue and emotion that is hard-hitting and real.
Poster:
Trailer:
Bechdel Test:
Fail
| Main Cast | Matthew Broderick Col. Robert Gould Shaw, Denzel Washington Pvt. Trip, Cary Elwes Maj. Cabot Forbes, Morgan Freeman Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins |
| Rating | R |
| Release Date | Fri 15 Dec 1989 UTC |
| Director | Edward Zwick |
| Genres | Drama, History, War |
| Plot | Robert Gould Shaw leads the US Civil War’s first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices of both his own Union army and the Confederates. |
| Poster |  |
| Runtime | 122 |
| Tagline | Their innocence. Their heritage. Their lives. Nothing would be spared in the fight for their freedom. |
| Writers | Kevin Jarre (screenplay), Lincoln Kirstein (book) |
| Year | 1989 |